Easy Weeknight Chili

 Source:  ourbestbites.com

INGREDIENTS

1 pound lean ground beef (I use 10% lean)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

3–4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tablespoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 can light kidney, black, or pinto beans, drained

1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes

1 8-ounce can tomato sauce

1 15-ounce can beef broth or equivalent concentrated beef bouillon dissolved in 15 oz. water

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, garlic, and green pepper and cook, stirring frequently. When the meat is cooked about halfway, add the seasonings and stir to coat the meat completely.

When the meat has cooked completely, add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. Garnish with desired toppings--green onions, red onions, sour cream, grated cheese, Fritos, tortilla chips, etc.

Ginger Beef Ramen

 Source:  America's Test Kitchen (modified)

Steak (leftover, whatever you've got)

6 C. Chicken broth

2 tsp. fresh ginger

1 tsp. grated lime zest, plus lime juice from 1/2- 1 lime

4 packs Ramen noodles

3 tsp. soy sauce

sliced green onions

Brown/heat steak in tsp of oil in pan--remove steak to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Add broth, ginger, lime zest to same pot, bring to a boil.  Add noodles and cook stirring often, about 3 mins.  

Off heat, add lime juice, soy sauce, and any juice from the steak.  Pour into bowls and top with steak and green onions.  

Weaver Taco Soup

Source: Amy Weaver



Chicken breasts (can be raw or cooked--just adjust cooking time)
can green chilies
15 oz can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes (or one jar or home canned ones--I just cut the tomatoes up a bit with scissors in      the jar) with juices
1 C salsa
1 can kidney beans, drained but not rinsed
1 can black beans, drained but not rinsed
1 can corn, drained or not
1/4 C Taco seasoning

Put all in crock pot and cook all day (doesn't have to be all day if the chicken is cooked.)  Shred chicken.  Top with chips, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, etc.  Delish!

*Amy made this for us and we ate it our first night in Nauvoo, July 2015

Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup

Source:  365daysofcrockpot.com

2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice

1 C finely diced celery

1 C finely diced carrots

4 C chicken broth

1 C finely diced onions

1/2 bay leaf

1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 Tbsp fresh)

1 Tbsp dried basil (or 1/4 C fresh)

1/2 C butter

1/2 C flour

1 C Parmesan cheese

2 C half and half, warmed

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

In a large slow cooker, combine tomatoes, celery, carrots, chicken broth, onions, bay leaf, oregano, and basil (if using fresh herbs.  If using dried, add during the last hour of cooking.)  Cover and cook on low 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft.  

About an hour before serving, prepare a roux:  melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour;  stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes.  Slowly stir in 1 C hot soup from the crockpot.  Add aother 3 C. soup and stir until smooth.

Add all back into the slow cooker.  Stir and add Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt, and pepper and any dried herbs.  Cover and cook another hour on low until ready to serve.

Homemade Tomato Soup

Source:  Roslyn Graham



4-5 garden fresh tomatoes

Put in a pot and heat till mushy  Blend.  Add salt to taste.  Add cream (1:4 cream to tomato puree ratio.)

Chicken Taco Soup

Source:  Stephanie Hammer



2 chicken breasts, shredded
1 family size can of chicken with rice soup
3 C. chicken broth (use the water you boiled the chicken in)
1 can of corn, untrained
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro
1 can Texas style ranch beans

Heat all together in sauce pan or crockpot.
Top with cheese, sour cream, green onions, and Fritos or tortilla chips

Note:  double it and put half in the freezer for a busy day. :)
Also, you could make it without the chicken for a quasi-vegetarian meal.